Parley

If you know anything about me, you'll know I have a cat named Parley P. Cat. If you follow me on Facebook, you'll know that said cat is old and sick. And if this is the first time you're hearing anything about any of this, it's probably your own fault because if you know me--even a little--you know how much I love my cat.

Parley is on day two at the vet. She's been having trouble breathing so they're treating her with lasik shots to draw fluid from her lungs. The kids and I went to see her this morning and she is breathing normally now and has a little bit of spring back in her old bones. She's approaching 14, though you wouldn't know it to look at her. She's still playful and spry. If you've known her all her life, though, you can tell. She's mellowed quite a bit and is skinnier than she's ever been. Never one to cuddle on cue, she was true to form in the vet's office, opting to sit with us just for a little while before climbing down and investigating. And this is when we learned of a new symptom: Parley can't see.

Part of this week's on-going sickness has been extremely dilated pupils. And I mean Shrek's Puss in Boot's have-pity-on-me-I'm-the-cutest-cat-in-the-world dilated pupils. Her pupils are still too large, making her look like she's in a continual state of devilry. The cause is unknown as all her blood work came back normal (although her thyroid is in the high range, but still normal--it wouldn't account for blindness anyway). I should amend that blind statement by adding that she can't see well. I think she can see in general but I'm not sure that she has very good depth perception. She ran into a cabinet and a wall. And even though she knew they were there, she didn't know exactly where they were. She reached them sooner than she thought she would.

There are treatments and procedures and specialists that she can see. But she's 14 years old. I grew up on a farm. Treatments, procedures and specialists are costly. Put it all together. We'll bring Parley home tomorrow to live out the rest of her days/weeks/years with us. We'll love her and spoil her and sleep with her whether she can see us or not. And by we, I mean I. I love her to pieces for so many reasons (another post entirely; I don't have time for anything but a health update today) but I am a country girl and as much as I love Parley like a person, I know she's an animal. My main goal is to keep her free of pain, which she is, and let nature take its course. I just hope the rest of the course is a long and winding one.

Why doesn't Amazon sell free time?

I haven't posted on my blog in awhile. I'm aware of this and I'm sorry if your lives have been duller because of it. I post all the time in my head, though. Finding the time to put it to digital paper is quite another thing.

This year, I made some serious resolutions. The amount of time (or lack thereof) in my day is always a problem for me. I feel rushed, I feel out of control, I feel like I can't do what I want to do. This year, my resolutions are all aimed at (partially) solving that problem.

No, Amazon doesn't sell more time.

But in the last three weeks, I've learned that finding a way to manage the time I have is almost just as good. After four years of being a stay-at-home mom, I finally found a daily schedule and routine that works for me. This is no small thing, I assure you. I also moved personal prayer and scripture study to the top of my list. I do it first thing in the morning and it's really become like coffee for me. {If I drank coffee, which I don't, but if I did that's what it would be like...} My years of experience have taught me that if I put my spirituality first, somehow things go smoother, I work faster and more cheerfully, and I have more time. Don't ask me how it works, it just does. And don't ask me why I threw that lesson out the window after I had kids, I just did.

Not a spiritual person? Well, I have to say you're probably missing out. But try meditating or big-time service work. Do it. And in a month, I'll tell you, "You're welcome."

So, what will I do with all my "extra" time in the year 2012? I won't waste anymore of it on The Office, that's for sure. So far, it's been spent sewing and crafting and spending time with the kids. The latter is most important and with this springtime January (last week hit the 70's, people!), kid time means time in the backyard and at the parks. And when the springtime showers come through, it means snuggling on my bed reading books, playing silly games and listening to music.

But most likely, I'll do what I've always wanted to do and spend it with my nose in a book. And yes, my friends, Amazon sells plenty of those.

Fall Fun

Last week the kids and I visited my friend Jill & her kids (who are the same age as mine) in Mississippi. We went to a cute little place called Country Pumpkins and picked out all kinds of pumpkins, played on tractors, jumped on a trailer full of cotton, etc. The kids had so much fun and it was a great way to spend a beautiful fall day.